Graveyard Dirt: Two Worlds and In-between

Midwinter Magic

I'm going to try writing this shit without reaching for a brown paper bag, because, holy fuck, there's less than a fucking month until Midwinter and I already feel like I'm behind on every-effin'-thing. In 29 days Italics and I will be celebrating the loudest motherfucking dumb supper your hellbound ears will ever hear: Sviata Vechera. And, this year, your effin' ass is joining in on the ancestral Yuletide revelry.

Sviata Vechera (literally "Holy Supper") is a time of intense merrymaking, rocking it hardcore with your dearest (both living and dead), giving thanks for all of your blessings and celebrating the return of the sun. The roots of the ritualized Ukrainian feast is hella ancient, but it got a weak facelift when Christianity rolled through Eastern Europe. The reborn sun was eventually personified as Jesus Christ, and the once pagan celebration evolved into a still pagan celebration with a laughably thin Christian veneer.

(That's right! You take what you fucking get, Eastern Orthodox Church!)(<- That includes venerating our ancestors through wheat, engaging in idolatry relationships with our icons and, most importantly, choking down our Easter cock bread.)

Unsurprisingly, the Midwinter observance got jostled around when Catholicism took over and the supper eventually settled on December 24 (the eve of Christ's birth). Ukraine isn't alone in making Christmas Eve a big effin' deal (way bigger than Christmas Day, which is a much more low-key affair), though. The majority of Europe blow their wad on the 24th, and each country and ethnicity seems to have very specific traditions, rituals and foods that are made, executed and enjoyed on the special day. (See: Christmas worldwide at Wikipedia.)

When Italics and I became masters of our own holiday observances we bumped Sviata Vechera to the winter solstice (known as Yule and Midwinter) to reclaim the original feast. We still celebrate the 24th and 25th, but in recent years our Holy Supper partying has totally eclipsed the more mainstream Christmas holidays to the point that we normally don't open our presents until New Year's Day. (It's an amphetamine and lingerie fueled Yuletide-themed Black Mass! <- Talk about getting the new year started on the right motherfucking foot!)

Last year's Sviata Vechera was our first attempt to be as traditional as fuck, and it was one of the most incredible Yuletide seasons we ever experienced. It was so effin' great that I swore on our kolach that I'd emotionally blackmail friends, readers and on-line acquaintances to join in on the loudest motherfucking dumb supper they'll ever hold. I want to read/hear/see unapologetic, balls-fucking-out hedonism filling up the longest night of your year, and I want it to be truly effin' special. So this year, my impish pampusky, I'm formally extending an invitation out to you to join us in your first loud-mouthed, rockin'-till-dawn dumb supper.

The first important thing you should know is that Midwinter falls on December 22nd this year - just in case you want to align your shit up with the solstice. Many of us, though, won't be able to perform our dumb supper on that day. And that's totally cool; what really effin' counts are your actions (although to qualify for the giveaway the deadline's Orthodox Epiphany: January 19th). Before you do anything else find and fix a date, and be sure to scribble "HOLY MOTHERFUCKING SUPPER" on the appropriate day in your calendar(s).

The second important thing you should know is that just because you're dipping your toes in Holy Supper territory doesn't mean you have to do it all Sviata Vechera-style. In other words, unless you're Ukrainian - or of some Slavic heritage - your ancestors probably won't recognize the shit I'm doing. But that's what Holy Supper's all about; merry-fucking-making with your friends, family, loved ones and ancestors. Your celebration should be tailored to suit your past, present and future.

Now it's time to get your research the fuck on. Most of us can trace our lineage back an ethnicity or two; for instance, I'm Ukrainian and Native American. On top of that, I live in northeast Scotland, and my religious persuasion - if you can even call it that - is hugely influenced by the Byzantine opulence of my youth (I was raised in the Eastern Orthodox Church, although I pledged my body to the Devil before the Church could confirm me). Therefore, my Holy Supper celebration incorporates themes from my ancient ancestors (pagan Sviata Vechera), my more modern ancestors (Orthodox Sviata Vechera) and the winter-themed practices of the indigenous people of Scotland (Italics's ancient and modern ancestors, not to mention the folk who previously worked this land).

Your story will obviously be different, so you'll need to spend a little time Googling the winter traditions, feasts, practices and rituals of your ancestors, the indigenous people of your land and/or your religion. If you're of European descent you'll have some rich fucking pickins' - you get to choose from ancient and modern Yuletide practices and menus! The idea is to find a few things that speak out to you, things that can easily be adapted using your own personal flavor, but an interpretation that's still somewhat recognizable to the people who you're entertaining.

It's important to keep in mind that Holy Supper's about inviting your ancestral line into your home for a special event, so you don't want to come off as a dickface by serving food that's completely fucking foreign to them. Even if you don't cook I emphatically urge the fuck outta you to take the time to recreate one traditional dish your ancestors, your congregation/coven or the indigenous people of your land would recognize as food (even better if it's food traditionally associated with Midwinter feastin'). Make your predecessors proud and pass on the peanut butter smoothies for once, okay?

And while I'm on your case about being treating your spectral folk decent-like it's important to note that most cultures reserve the very best for their visiting dead. Since it's your ass inviting them around for a good ole party make sure you treat them like guests: set a place for them at your table (in addition to that we Ukrainians normally leave our Holy Supper spread out all night long to give our relatives a chance to eat at their leisure), use your very best linens, dishes and decorations, and always - ALWAYS! - serve your dead first. (<- Fixin' your plate first is the equivalent of taking the first slice of birthday cake when it isn't your motherfucking birthday; bad effin' manners, dude.)

Now that I've broken down the Holy Supper concept into bite-sized pieces, AND managed to briefly lose your attention while sternly lecturing you about right-proper necro-conduct it's time to cinch this shit together in five simple steps to assure everyone who's thinking about joining me that this isn't an epic undertaking:

1. Write down your supper date (deadline: Jan. 19th)
2. Get your research on
3. Circle a few celebratory traditions
4. Make one traditional dish
5. Create an ancestor setting

...and that's it! No, seriously! Joining in on - and making some - Midwinter magic is that effin' easy, all you really gotta do is research your shit for ideas and then use those mofos as a springboard to make your Holy Supper as spectacular as you want. Better yet, you've got twenty-effin'-nine days to make that magic a reality, which is more than enough time to do one extra special thing this holiday season. (<- Who knows? You just might invent a practice this year that becomes an ancestral tradition.)

Holy Supper Participants (how to get added**):
* Alex @ http://spectralradiance.tumblr.com/
* Aubs Satsekhem Tea @ http://satsekhem.wordpress.com/
* Cody @ http://cosmicowlchild.tumblr.com/
* Deb @ http://dropoutdilettante.blogspot.com/
* Erin Nightwalker @ http://nightwalkinghedgehog.wordpress.com/
* Fox Dreams @ http://foxdreams.wordpress.com/
* Haloquin @ http://haloquin.tumblr.com/
* Harley @ http://voluspo.tumblr.com/
* Hermit Witch @ http://hermitwitch.blogspot.com
* Hieronyma Jerome @ http://www.hieronyma.org/
* Jow @ http://jow-amagesblog.blogspot.com/
* Maris Pái @ http://witchofthenorth.tumblr.com/
* Mrs. Oddly @ http://somethingoddly.blogspot.com/
* Ms. Graveyard Dirt @ http://www.graveyarddirt.com/
* Morag @ http://expellingthevenom.tumblr.com/
* Nefaeria @ http://nefaeriaofetsy.blogspot.com/
* November Witch @ http://novemberwitch.tumblr.com/
* Nyktipolos @ http://nyktipolos.wordpress.com/
* Old Kitchen Witch @ http://www.stepawayfromthecauldron.blogspot.com/
* Oya's Daughter @ http://oyasdaughter.wordpress.com/
* Primal Heart @ http://theprimalheart.wordpress.com/
* Rabbit Viola @ http://thebefuddledwitch.blogspot.com/
* Random Proxy @ http://randomproxy.deviantart.com/
* Sara @ http://www.lobeliarama.com
* Scylla @ http://rootandrock.blogspot.com/
* Shelby Lou @ http://shelbylou.tumblr.com/
* Southern Witch @ http://jane-the-southern-witch.blogspot.com/
* Sunny @ http://sunnyamongothers.wordpress.com/
* Talas Pái @ http://talaspai.huginnpress.com/blog/
* Temple Witch @ http://smokefromthetemple.wordpress.com/
* Thora @ http://tadrakos.wordpress.com/

** Planning on taking part in the Holy Supper Challenge? Fan-fucking-tastic! Please email me at graveyarddirt@gmail.com with your blog address, and what name you'd like me to use when listing you as a participant.